Your baby in pictures

Copyright © 2011 by Me Ra Koh All rights reserved Published in the United States by Amphoto Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York www.crownpublishing.com www.amphotobooks.com AMPHOTO BOOKS and the Amphoto Books logo are trademarks of Random House, Inc Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Koh, Me Ra, 1973 The new parents’ guide to photographing your baby’s first year / Me Ra Koh – 1st ed p cm Includes bibliographical references and index eISBN: 978-0-8174-4970-4 Photography of infants Baby books Title TR681.I6K64 2010 778.9’25–dc22 2010032620 Cover and interior deisgn by Jane Archer (www.psbella.com) Cover photos by Me Ra Koh v3.1 acknowledgments I’m always amazed at how many people play a role in publishing a book My name is on the cover, but there are so many others who helped birth this book To Julie Mazur, my wonderful Senior Acquisitions Editor at Amphoto Books, thank you for your commitment and belief in me Editor Cathy Hennessy, you have helped me fine tune these pages countless times Thank you for putting your heart into this—even getting in the pool with your sweet baby! Thanks to the design team for working hard to create a beautiful layout Thank you to all those involved with production, unseen but not forgotten Special thanks to Gina Sook, my little sister and talented photographer, who helped me tie up countless loose ends Thank you to all the beautiful families represented within these pages You invited me into your lives, and it is a true honor to capture your unfolding stories Much love to all my blog readers; your support inspires me daily To Brian, my husband and partner, who organizes images, shoots alongside me, films the videos, listens to me cry, brainstorm, rant, and laugh—you are simply an amazing man And lastly, the deepest part of me gives thanks to my Heavenly Father for giving me new life in the most unexpected places contents Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Acknowledgments PREFACE: my story INTRODUCTION: baby steps getting started Choosing a Camera Helpful Camera Accessories Easy Camera Settings for Taking Better Photos 5 Tips for Finding Great Light 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid 10 Tips For Getting Great Shots REFUSE TO SAY CHEESE™: capture the story Refuse to Say Cheese 40 Photo Recipes 0-3 MONTHS: tiny yawns, tiny cries, tiny hands Five Tips for Photographing Your Newborn 1 First Breath, First Cry 2 Warm and Quiet: Bath Time 3 Nose to Nose 4 Tiny Yawns 5 The Fleeting Hair Swirl 6 Tiny Hands 7 The Big Bed 8 Tiny Cries 9 How She Wants to Be Held 10 A Family Portrait that Tells a Story 3-6 MONTHS: peekaboo! your baby finally sees you Five Tips for Photographing Your 3-6-Month-Old 11 Before Your “Sleeping Giant” Wakes 12 Tummy Time 13 Peekaboo! 14 The Unforgettable Baby Detail 15 The Push-up 16 I Could Eat You Up! 17 Baby and Toddler Together (Yes, It’s Possible!) 18 Sitting Up … Well, Almost! 19 Baby Faces 20 Standing Proud, Part 1 6-9 MONTHS: who needs tv when you have a baby? Five Tips for Photographing Your 6-9-Month-Old 21 The Unexpected Favorite Toy 22 Fleeting Fascination with Toes, Hands, and Even Tongues 23 Love Pats While Feeding 24 Flexibility You Would Die For 25 The First Swim 26 Standing Proud, Part 2 27 Baby’s Best Friend: The Family Dog last words BIRTH OF A NEW LOVE When your baby turns one, you must pause for a moment Turn off the ringer on your phone Turn off the TV Put the baby down for a nap, and sit down on the couch Pause Let the quiet moment sink in You are a mom, and a damn good one Twelve months ago, you came home with a baby If you were like me, you half expected the alarms to go off when you walked out the hospital doors Surely, they can’t be letting you take this fragile, tiny thing home! And yet they did And somehow, the transformation happened The fears of feeling unqualified to nurture and care for this baby grew quieter and quieter with each passing month You went from crying on the couch as you tried to figure out the whole feeding routine to feeding your one-year-old, as you make yourself lunch, while you answer the phone, and somehow grab that mystery object before baby sticks it in her mouth—phew! You still don’t have all the answers You know the challenges of being a parent will change as your baby grows But when you go to bed at night, you no longer dream about those hospital alarms going off You know you were meant for this Photography is the same way At first, your camera feels like an awkward black object full of buttons that make you go cross-eyed The language of photography is foreign “Aper—what? Did you say ISO? Is that a fraction you are showing me?” You try to capture your baby, but you end up with what I call “happy accidents.” These are photos that look pretty great, but you feel frustrated because you don’t know how to reproduce the same results You resign yourself to believing the lie that photography is just too technical for you I mean really … the only proof you need is to try reading the camera manual Doesn’t that confirm it? Answer—no, not in the least Despite all the fear that says you aren’t smart enough or creative enough, the passion, the deep passion, to capture your baby never leaves you Listen to this passion Let your passion for capturing your baby become bigger and stronger than your intimidation by all the newness around your camera This first year is only the beginning Capturing your baby the first year is amazing Capturing your baby as a five-year-old is even better! As your baby grows, you’ll grow One day the word aperture will roll off your tongue, and you’ll look around because you are in such shock that you are using that word like it’s no big deal! And the black object that once felt foreign will feel like an extension of who you are and how you see the world Like all creative practices, photography takes practice One of my goals throughout this book has been to demystify the mysteries behind the technical settings by giving them all to you I hope that as you become more comfortable with the technical aspects of photography you will feel more freedom to experiment with your own creativity In fact, I suggest customizing my photo recipes with your own notes and preferences as you would your favorite food recipes There isn’t one way to take a great photo but several! The learning process doesn’t stop here You can visit my website (and even contact me through it), www.merakoh.com, for video tutorials and even more photo recipes! I have also formed an online community called www.refusetosaycheese.com where you can post photos that you take using the photo recipes in this book and check out the photos that other readers are posting This forum is a safe place for moms, just like you, who want to help each other make their pictures look professional I look forward to seeing your photos on the forum so we can all celebrate in your growth! Isn’t it amazing that not only are you learning a new skill, but you are also capturing the story of your baby’s life at the same time When I look at photos of myself as a baby, I don’t think about how my mom used or didn’t use the Rule of Thirds or a low f-stop She didn’t know any more about picture-taking than the average person I don’t see any of that I just see me as a baby I see myself through my mama’s eyes I feel treasured because in the midst of her crazy life (which I now understand better than ever), she had moments where she was caught by my beauty She saw me And I became known Imagine the gift that you are giving your baby—they will have a window into their childhood through their mama’s eyes And one last thing, don’t be to surprised if friends start asking you to take photos of their kids It’s hard to resist passionate people—whether they are Ansel Adams or a mom with a camera! Much, much love, Me Ra MY DSLR SETTINGS: f/2.8 at 1/4000 sec (or 4000), ISO 200 When we approach photography with a sense of wonder and playfulness, everyone responds! index A-B Adults, shooting Aperture Priority mode Author’s story Background excessive, avoiding Bath time Batteries, extra Bed shots, Chapter 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 Birthday, first C-D Cameras See also DSLR cameras accessories for choosing features to consider megapixels point-and-shoot, Chapter 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 settings for better photos size and weight straps for, Chapter 1.1, 1.2 zoom and wide-angle features Card holders Card readers Center Focus Centering images Cheering on baby Composition Conflict, capturing Continuous Shooting mode, Chapter 1.1, 1.2 Crazy things they love doing Crying, Chapter 3.1, 3.2 Dad and baby about: making dad look good first swim fleeting hair swirl flying cherub silhouette nose to nose Default settings, changing Deleting images Details, defining Dog and baby DSLR cameras Aperture Priority mode cost considerations features to consider images too dark or light joining brand family lenses, Chapter 1.1, 1.2 menu usability photo recipe overview point-and-shoots and, Chapter 1.1, 1.2 shutter speed display size and weight E-F Enhancing photos Everyday settings to remember External hard drives Facial expressions Family portrait that tells a story Feeding/eating, Chapter 5.1, 6.1 First birthday First breath, first cry First swim Flash turning off using Flexibility you would die Flying cherub silhouette Focusing, Chapter 1.1, 3.1, 4.1 G-L Graininess Grandparents, keeping engaged Hair, Chapter 3.1, 4.1 Hands, Chapter 3.1, 5.1 Hard drives, external Heritage, of your baby How she wants to be held I could eat you up! Image quality options Legs Lens cleaners Lenses, Chapter 1.1, 1.2 Light avoiding dark images DSLR camera tips great, tips for low-light conditions sun position and timing turning off flash turning off indoor lights, Chapter 1.1, 6.1 using flash Love pats while feeding M-N Megapixels Mistakes to avoid Mom and baby about: content look on mom, Chapter 4.1; making mom look good, 3.1; slenderizing mom, 4.2 first swim fleeting fascination with toes, hands, tongues how she wants to be held I could eat you up! love of multiple generations love pats while feeding sitting up … well, almost! standing proud, part 1 tiny yawns before your “sleeping giant” wakes Newborns See Photo recipes (0–3 months) Nose to nose O-P On the Move Peekaboo! Perspective, shifting Photo recipes (0–3 months) about: tips for photographing newborns bath time the big bed family portrait that tells a story first breath, first cry fleeting hair swirl how she wants to be held nose to nose tiny cries tiny hands tiny yawns Photo recipes (3–6 months) about: tips for photographing three-to six-month-olds baby and toddler together facial expressions I could eat you up! peekaboo! the push-up sitting up … well, almost! standing proud, part 1 tummy time unforgettable baby detail (bald spot) before your “sleeping giant” wakes Photo recipes (6–9 months) about: cheering on baby, Chapter 5.1; tips for photographing six- to nine-month-olds, 5.2 baby and dog first swim fleeting fascination with toes, hands, tongues flexibility you would die for love of multiple generations love pats while feeding on the move standing proud, part 2 unexpected favorite toy your baby’s heritage Photo recipes (9–12 months) about: tips for photographing nine-to twelve-month-olds anything sister can do, I can do, too chunky adorable baby legs climbing the stairs crazy things they love doing everyday settings to remember first birthday flying cherub silhouette making messy meal worth it standing proud, part 3 sweet white shoes Photo recipes, about Point-and-shoot cameras, Chapter 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 Portrait mode Push-up S-Y Settings, camera See Shooting tips Settings, of photos, Chapter 1.1, 2.1 See also Photo recipes references Shoes Shooting tips common mistakes to avoid great light great shots Rule of Thirds, Chapter 1.1, 3.1 settings for better photos shifting perspective Shooting tips (by age of baby) newborns three- to six-month-olds six- to nine-month-olds nine- to twelve-month-olds Shutter speed display Siblings, Chapter 4.1, 6.1 Sitting up … well, almost! Sleeping Snapshots, storytelling vs Stairs, climbing Standing proud, part 1 Standing proud, part 2 Standing proud, part 3 Storytelling capturing conflict defining details refusing to say “cheese!,” settings and backgrounds snapshots vs Swim, first Temperature, controlling Thirds, Rule of, Chapter 1.1, 3.1 Toddler and baby together Toes Tongues Toy, favorite Tummy time Yawns ... AMPHOTO BOOKS and the Amphoto Books logo are trademarks of Random House, Inc Library of Congress Cataloging -in- Publication Data Koh, Me Ra, 1973 The new parents’ guide to photographing your baby s first year / Me Ra Koh – 1st ed... ENOUGH MEGAPIXELS A majority of point-and-shoot cameras now have nine-plus megapixels—that’s pretty amazing But don’t be fooled into buying a point-and-shoot model because it has two more megapixels than another: It isn’t worth it... Five Tips for Photographing Your 9-1 2-Month-Old 31 Those Chunky, Adorable Baby Legs 32 Those Sweet White Shoes 33 Everyday Settings to Remember 34 Making a Messy Meal Worth It 35 Climbing the Stairs 36 Flying Cherub Silhouette